Good man Jim Samples.
Somewhere on the Channel Frederator Blog I commented on a few snarks on last week’s resignation of the Cartoon Network General Manager Jim Samples. I wanted to say a little more.
Jim is a good guy. We’ve never done anything but talk together (actually, that’s not entirely accurate; recently Frederator Studios made an agreement with CN for the movie rights to one of their shows), and I always found him to be a decent, humble, and dedicated guy. Someone I would have liked to work with if the situation ever arose.
Mostly I encountered a gentleman, someone who earnestly worked hard for his company, his network, and all his colleagues. Someone who never expected to be in the position he was in in the animation industry, but, once he found himself there, was going to work like the devil for all the artists he represented and making sure he never let down his business superiors at the same time. Not an easy task to be sure.
When Jim moved to the network (from running CartoonNetwork.com) he admitted his lack of programming and cartoon creds but he went to right to work, listening to anyone and everyone who could help him improve the outlook of his diminishing channel. After a steady ratings decline, and against the odds and naysayers, he reversed an early decade slide with a lot of hard decisions that went against the grain of conventional wisdom and Cartoon Network popped up from a weak #3 to a strong #2 against Nickelodeon’s long term (and still holding) #1 position.
I said in my comment “Do we like all the decisions he made? Hell, I don’t like all the decisions *I’ve* made either. But I’ve got to say, he tried, with all authenticity, to do his best with humility and dedication.” I stand by that.
By the way, Craig McCraken gave a great shout out to Jim at his acceptance of Best TV Production at tonight’s Annies. A classy move, I thought.
The cartoon business will miss Jim Samples.
»
On February 12th, 2007 at 12:00 am
I just wanted to add that I don’t know Mr Samples at all. I was just reporting the news. I also think that it’s silly that no one on the Boston police force or in the Department of Homeland Security resigned over this event. Where’s the outrage? I think it’s misplaced. Some cartoon signs bring a city to it’s knees for an entire day? Lame.
On February 12th, 2007 at 12:00 am
I’m sorry to rain on your post, but Jim Samples wasn’t as good as the employees at CN made him out to be. Sure, he did some great things to the network during his time, but he’s also responsible for the worst things to happen to the network in the past few years.
The gradual disappearance of classic cartoons? That’s his doing. The loss of some of the older creative talent at Cartoon Network Studios? Yep, that’s him. Rejecting quality pilots (like “Korgoth”) and greenlighting bad shows without a second glance? Positivo. Adding live-action to Cartoon Network? (sigh) Yes.
Am I here to piss on Mr. Samples, especially during this time of crisis? No; in fact, I wish him the best in his future. He left on a high note, and I commend him for that. I just wish that whoever replaces him doesn’t follow in his post-2005 footsteps.
I know that Samples tried really hard, but in the end, CN turned out further away from its original mission of what it represented, and I just want the network (and Boomerang, too, since that’s also starting to noticibly slip) on the right track again.
On February 12th, 2007 at 12:00 am
Yeah, as much as it is dumb that Jim Samples had to resign, even though he’s likely the numbskull behind the “Live Action” content finding it’s way onto the channel I also think it’s retarded that the Boston Police Force and the media in general aren’t held accountable for the “terror” they single handedly created with this incident.
On February 15th, 2007 at 12:00 am
Jim Samples for Mayor? Read all about it